ISAS Insights

How will Asia fare during President Barack Obama’s second term as President? The change in the national security team in Washington would have some relevance but under President Barack Obama the real decision-making is done at the White House. It may, therefore, not matter much that a new cast of characters is now in place to conduct United States’ foreign policy. At the same time, the regime will function without much friction since those in senior national security positions are of the same mind as President Obama. The president has gone from a “team of rivals”2 he recruited for his first term to a team of the likeminded for his second term. Implementing basic policy decisions should, therefore, proceed smoothly. This paper explores what the new players are likely to bring to their desks and how America might, in President Obama’s second term, attempt to shape the world.